The Queen Sparkles As She Opens Scotland’s Parliament

The Queen, who is currently in residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, traveled to Edinburgh for the opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament.

She was accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland) for the event.

Inside the Scottish Parliament Building in Holyrood, the Queen was greeted by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

In the Debating Chamber, the Queen delivered her address to parliament. She paid tribute to “local heroes” from across Scotland who have worked to help their communities during the pandemic. She also spoke about her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and their mutual love for Scotland: “I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country, and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held of our time here.”

The Queen chose a very appropriate brooch for the occasion. She wore Queen Mary’s Diamond Thistle Brooch, a long, stylized thistle set with diamonds and flanked by a pair of thistle leaves.

The brooch belonged to the Queen’s beloved grandmother, Queen Mary. The Queen has been wearing the jewel more often in recent years.

The Duchess of Cornwall also wore a brooch that paid tribute to Scotland’s national flower. This is the Queen Mother’s Diamond Thistle Brooch, which Camilla has worn on more than one occasion since joining the royal family in 2005.

There was also one more very important royal jewel present in the Debating Chamber during the opening of parliament. The Crown of Scotland, the oldest existing piece of crown jewelry in Britain, was carried in by the Duke of Hamilton. He holds the position of “Hereditary Crown Bearer.”